Removable pin and socket connector



March 10, 1964 M. LAZAR ETAL REMOVABLE PIN AND SOCKET CONNECTOR Original Filed May 29, 1958 FIG.4

INVENTORS film/M 1 [42 42 BY fiiozkxck J. ,eupae/mw United States Patent 3,124,407 REMOVABLE PIN AND SOCKET CONNECTQR Michael Lazar, White Plains, and Frederick J. Ruderman, New Rochelle, N .Y., assignors to Burndy Corporation, a corporation of New York Continuation of application Ser. No. 738,881, May 29, 1958. This application Dec. 1, 1960, Ser. No. 73,149 3 Claims. (6i. 339213) .This invention relates to electrical connectors of the mating plug and receptacle type having pin and socket contacts and, more particularly, to electrical connectors having multiple pin and socket contacts which are removable from mating plugs and receptacles.

This application is a continuation of SN 738,881, filed May 29, 1958, now abandoned.

The advantages of electrical connectors of the mating plug and receptacle type having multiple pin and socket contacts is obvious, but the prior art connectors have not been completely satisfactory because the known structures have often required a large number of different components to be manufactured by relatively expensive methods. The contacts, once assembled in their respective plugs and receptacles, could not be removed nor could they be interchanged, and usually the contacts required that a solder operation be performed in a diflicult location under poor conditions.

One of the objects of this invention, therefore, is to provide a novel contact assembly and structure for use in electrical connectors of the mating plug and receptacle type.

Another object of this invention is to provide a contact assembly structure which allows easy insertion and ready removal from the supporting plug or receptacle.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel socket contact member functioning to retain the mating pin in the socket, ensure electrical contact of the cooperating contact members and retain the socket in the supporting receptacle.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an electrical connector structure having a minimum number of parts which can be readily and inexpensively fabricated.

One of the features of this invention is the provision of a multiple contact plug and receptacle type electrical connector wherein the mating portions may be of identical design, each having a plurality of bores therethrough into which are removably disposed mating pins and sockets. In one embodiment the pin contacts each have a tubular body portion about which is disposed a retaining spring which locks the contact to the receptacle. Each retaining spring includes a releasing cam surface which, when acted upon, permits the removal of the contact from the bore of the receptacle.

Another feature of this invention is the provision of a unitary socket connector structure having a generally tubular configuration composed of a plurality of spring like fingers. The spring fingers of the socket connector are each provided with a locking shoulder connected to a cam surface, which when operated upon, disengages the locking shoulders from the receptacle, permitting removal of the socket therefrom. The spring fingers also ensure adequate mechanical and electrical coupling between the mating contacts.

These and other features and objects of this invention will become more apparent by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view in cross section of a mated plug and receptacle electrical connector in accordance with the principles of our invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded side view of the pin contact and ice spring forming the pin contact assembly of our invention;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the socket contact of our invention; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged end view of the socket connector shown in FIG. 3.

Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawing, a side view in cross section of an electrical connector in accordance with the principles of our invention is therein seen to comprise a plug portion 18 and a receptacle portion 12. The plug portion 10 comprises an insulating housing 14 having a bore therethrough. The bore '16 includes a portion of restricted diameter forming a front locking shoulder '18 and rear locking shoulder 20. Contained within the bore 16 is the pin contact assembly 22. The pin contact assembly 22 comprises the male contact pin 24 and its associated retaining spring 26.

The receptacle portion 12 of the electrical connector includes an insulation housing 28 having a bore 30 therein with a restricted portion forming a front shoulder 32 and a rear locking shoulder 34. It is, of course, desirable and entirely possible to use identical structures for the insulation housing 14 and 28. Contained within the re6ceptacle housing bore 38 is the female contact of socket 3 Referring now to FIG. 2, an exploded view of the pin contact assembly 22 for use in the plug portion 10 of the electrical connector of our invention is therein shown to comprise the contact portion 24, and its associated retaining spring 26. The male contact comprises a pin portion 38, a wire receiving barrel 48 and an insulation ferrule 42. A front shoulder 44 is located on the pin portion 38 and includes a taper section 46 forming a transition between the pin 38 and the front shoulder 44. A transition section 48 is provided between the barrel portion 68 and the narrow diameter portion of the contact 58 located behind the shoulder 44. Barrel portion 68 provides proper float of the contact in the restricted bore 16 when the contact is properly seated. A rear shoulder 52 is located on the wire receiving barrel and behind the shoulder 52 is a peephole 54.

The spring retainer 26 comprises a generally tubular shaped configuration composed of a spring metal and having a plurality of "spring-like fingers or tongues 56, 58 and so. Each spring-like finger is terminated at its forward end in a locking shoulder 62 connected to a camrning surface 64. At the rear all the spring-like fingers 56, 58 and 68 are joined together in a tubular body portion 66. In use the spring as is slipped over the pin 38 and rides up the taper transition 46 and over the front shoulder 44. The tubular body section 66 of the spring 26 clamps around the front end 68 of the pin While the front edges of the spring fingers are disposed behind the front shoulder 44. Thus the spring is prevented from longitudinal movement by the front shoulder 4-4 abutting the front of the spring retainer 26 and the rear shoulder 52 abutting the rear shoulder of the spring 26. After the pin contact is assembled an insulated Wire '70 has its conductor bared and inserted into the wire receiving barrel til. To ensure sufiicient insertion, the peephole 54 is utilized to permit inspection of the positioning of the bared wire. A crimp or indentation 72 is then made to fasten the pin contact 22 to the bared wire. This crimp ensures electricaland mechanical contact between the pin contact 26 and the wire 70. In a similar manner, the insulation ferrule 42 is indented or crimped as shown at 74 to the insulation of the conductor 'ill.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawing, the socket contact of our invention is therein shown to comprise a generally tubular configuration having an insulation ferrule 76 connected to a wire receiving barrel '78 which is terminated by a rear locking shoulder 80. The front portion of the generally tubular socket contact is divided into a plurality of spring-like fingers or tongues 82, 84, 86 and 88. Sue simple method of forming these springlike fingers is through the use of saw cuts on the tubular body. A front locking shoulder 9% is provided which is connected to a camming surface 92. In actual design the bore of the socket contact which accepts the mating pin contact is of slightly less diameter than the diameter of the pin to provide sufiicient contact pressure. However, even with the pin not inserted in the socket, the front locking shoulders 9d engage the front locking shoulder 32 of the receptacle housing 28. A conductor may be joined to the socket contact in a manner similar to the joining of the conductor to the male contact.

In use the male contact assembly is inserted into the bore 16 of the plug housing 1 The front transition 46 centers the contact and the camrning surface 64 of the spring 26 is operated upon, depressing the spring as its front edge passes through the restricted portion of the bore 16. When the front locking shoulder 62 of the spring 26 passes the front locking shoulder 18 of the housing 14, the spring returns to its original configuration and the contact 22 is locked within the housing 14 because the rear locking shoulder 52 abuts the rear shoulder 20 of the housing. In a similar manner the socket 36 is inserted in the receptacle housing and the camming surface 92 comprises the spring fingers of the socket 36, permitting the socket to ride into the restricted portion of the bore 39. After the front locking shoulders 99 of the socket 36 pass the front shoulders 32 of the restricted portion of the bore, the spring fingers return to their original configuration and the socket is locked in place by the shoulder 8t} abutting the insulation shoulder 34 and the front locking shoulder 90 abutting the insulation shoulder 32.

In order to remove the socket from the insulation housing, a simple rod-like tool having a hollow portion is utilized. The tool is slipped over the front of either the pin or socket contact, and its edge is caused to ride up the camming surface 64 or 92. The inner diameter of the tool is approximately equal to the diameter of the restricted portion of the bore of the housing and so causes the spring fingers to disengage shoulder 62 from insulation shoulder 18 or shoulder $0 from insulation shoulder 32. When the spring is compressed through the use of such a simple tool, a slight backward pull on the conductor will cause the contact to be withdrawn through the restricted portion of the housing.

As will be readily recognized by those skilled in the art, the distance between the front shoulder 18 or 32 and the front of the housing 14 or 2%, respectively, may be varied. Preferably, the distances should be equal so that the same housing may be utilized for the pin or the socket contact.

We have thus described our invention but we desire it understood that it is not confined to the particular forms or uses shown and described, the same being merely illustrative, and that the invention may be carried out in other ways without departing from the spirit of our invention and, therefore, we claim broadly the right to employ all equivalent instrumentalities coming within the scope of the appended claims, and by means of which, objects of our invention are attained and new results are accomplished, as it is obvious that the particular embodiments herein shown and described are only some of the many that can be employed to attain these objects and accomplish these results.

We claim:

1. An electrical contact assembly, comprising: a metal contact member, and a split sleeve spring member disposed circumferentially about said contact member; wherein said contact member includes, in axial alignment, a mating portion for engaging a mating contact, a body portion, a conductor receiving portion, and a first and a second annular flange on said body portion axially spaced a given distanceapart; said body portion further including a first subportion of a given diameter and a second subportion of lessthan said given diameter, each disposed between said flanges; and wherein said spring member is positioned between said flanges, the opposite ends thereof engaging respectively said first and said second flanges to prevent axial displacement thereof, and the inner diameter of said split sleeve is equal to said given diameter; said spring member including a plurality of longitudinally disposed resilient fingers formed therein extending over said second subportion of said body, each finger having an outwardly extending radial projection thereon including a sloping camming surface for deflecting said fingers inwardly toward said second subportion in response to an axial force applied thereto.

2. An electrical connector assembly, comprising: an insulating housing having a bore therethrough and a portion of reduced diameter within said bore forming a first and a second shoulder therein; a metal contact member disposed within said bore; and a split sleeve spring member circumferentially disposed about said contact member within said bore; wherein said contact member includes, in axial alignment, a mating portion for engaging a mating contact, a body portion, a conductor receiving portion, and a first and a second annular flange on said body portion'axially spaced a given distance apart; said first flange abutting said first shoulder within said bore to prevent over insertion of said contact therein, and said second flange being disposed adjacent said second shoulder; said body portion further including afirst subportion of a given diameter and a second subportion of less than said given diameter, each disposed between said flanges; and wherein said spring member is positioned between said flanges, the opposite ends thereof engaging respectively said first and said second flanges to prevent axial displacement thereof, and the inner diameter of said split sleeve is equal to said given diameter; said spring member including a plurality of axially disposed resilient fingers formed therein extending over said second subportion of said body, each finger having an outwardly extending radial projection thereon abutting said second shoulder within said bore to resist wthdrawal from said bore and including a sloping camming surface for deflecting said fingers inwardly toward said second subportion in response to an axial force applied thereto to disengage said radial projection from said second shoulder.

3. The electrical connector assembly of claim 2 wherein the diameter of said bore is greater than the diameter of either of said contact mating portion and said second annular flange, thereby providing longitudinal access through said bore for a tool to act on said camming surfaces.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,294,738 Bruno Sept. 1, 1942 2,469,397 Mezek May 10, 1949 2,477,349 Adams Aug. 2, 1949 2,563,712 Frei et al. Aug. 7, 1951 2,686,073 Damon July 27, 1954 2,695,394 Watts Nov. 23, 1954 3,028,575 Lazar et al. -1 Apr. 3, 1962 

1. AN ELECTRICAL CONTACT ASSEMBLY, COMPRISING: A METAL CONTACT MEMBER, AND A SPLIT SLEEVE SPRING MEMBER DISPOSED CIRCUMFERENTIALLY ABOUT SAID CONTACT MEMBER; WHEREIN SAID CONTACT MEMBER INCLUDES, IN AXIAL ALIGNMENT, A MATING PORTION FOR ENGAGING A MATING CONTACT, A BODY PORTION, A CONDUCTOR RECEIVING PORTION, AND A FIRST AND A SECOND ANNULAR FLANGE ON SAID BODY PORTION AXIALLY SPACED A GIVEN DISTANCE APART; SAID BODY PORTION FURTHER INCLUDING A FIRST SUBPORTION OF A GIVEN DIAMETER AND A SECOND SUBPORTION OF LESS THAN SAID GIVEN DIAMETER, EACH DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID FLANGES; AND WHEREIN SAID SPRING MEMBER IS POSITIONED BETWEEN SAID FLANGES, THE OPPOSITE ENDS THEREOF ENGAGING RESPECTIVELY SAID FIRST AND SAID SECOND FLANGES TO PREVENT AXIAL DISPLACEMENT THEREOF, AND THE INNER DIAMETER OF SAID SPLIT SLEEVE IS EQUAL TO SAID GIVEN DIAMETER; SAID SPRING MEMBER INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF LONGITUDINALLY DISPOSED RESILIENT FINGERS FORMED THEREIN EXTENDING OVER SAID SECOND SUBPORTION OF SAID BODY, EACH FINGER HAVING AN OUTWARDLY EXTENDING RADIAL PROJECTION THEREON INCLUDING A SLOPING CAMMING SURFACE FOR DEFLECTING SAID FINGERS INWARDLY TOWARD SAID SECOND SUBPORTION IN RESPONSE TO AN AXIAL FORCE APPLIED THERETO. 